Hat-forming machine



No. 6|2,425. Patented flct. l8, I898.

n. .1. LYNCH.

HAT FORMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dan. 14, 1897.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

1% a 4 S p,

INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented Oct. I8, |898..

B. J. LYNCH. HAT FORMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W0 Model.)

ATTORN EY UITE STATES RICHARD J. LYNCH, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-FORMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 6l2,425, dated October18, 1898.

' Application filed December 14, 1897- Serial No. 661,839- (N'o model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHat-Forming Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Myinven tion relates to certain new and useful improvements inhat-forming machines, but more particularly relates to the apparatus anddevices which are employed for the purpose of breaking up the fur andseparating the same, so that it may readily be blown in proper conditioninto the chamber which contains the forming-cone.

The object of my present invention is to prevent the formation of dags,which are frequently delivered to the forming-cone and render the hatsimperfect. These dags are formed in several ways-for instance, by thematting together of particles of fur which become caught between theends of the picker and brush rolls and the casing in which such rollsare journaled or by the fur coming in contactwith the oil whichlubricates the bearings of these rolls, and thus become worked intostickylumps or balls. These dags would not work any material harmprovided that they were never delivered into the formingchamber proper;but it is a fact that during the operation of the machine such dags areconstantly becoming dislodged and delivered into the forming-chamberwith the results above noted.

Heretofore devices have been employed for the purpose of removing thedags, but such devices have always operated imperfectly and are notreliable; also, special bearings have been provided whereby thelubrication of the rolls is at a point or points outside the easing; buteven this does not fully accomplish the result aimed at, for the reasonthat the small particles of fur will become caught and massed togetherbetween the casing and the ends of the rolls and will eventually bethrown out into the forming-chamber. By the use of and free fromgathering particles of fur, so

that the defects above noted are entirely obviated.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application,Figure l is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating thegeneral construction of that part of ahatforming machine which operatesto pick the fur to pieces and properly deliver the same into thehat-forming chamber proper. Figs. 2 and 3 are broken sectionalelevations re spectively at the lines 00 0c and y 1 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4and 5 are broken perspectives illustratin g, respectively, the upper andlower portions of the casing whichincloses the picker and brush rolls;and Fig. 6 is a detail crosssectional elevation of the picker-roll.

Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

1 is the body or lower portion of the casing, within which thebrush-roll 2 and picker-roll 3 are journaled in proper relative positionwith respect to each other.

4 5 are the feed-rolls, by means of which the fur is delivered to thepicker-roll, and 6 is the endless apron, upon which the fur is spreadpreparatory to a delivery of thesame to these feed-rolls.

I have not illustrated the hat-forming chamher, but will merely statethat the opening 7 beyond the brush-roll leads directly into thischamber and that the" draft or suction employed through the hat-formingcone draws the particles of fur in the usual manner through thisopening.

The parts heretofore described are very ordinary and operate inthe usualmanner, and I will now describe my invention proper and the manner inwhich the same is applied.

The ends of the brush-roll and picker-roll are conical in shape, asshown, respectively, p

at 8 9, and from these conical portions the usual journals project. Thecasing within which these rolls are journaled is formed withconical-shaped boxes, which inclose the conical ends of the rolls; butthere is consider able space between these boxes and these conicalends,and, moreover, there is a space between these boxes. and the journalswhich pass therethrough, so that it will be clear that the interior ofthe casing has ready communication with the outside air by means of thefree space afforded by these boxes. These boxes are preferably formed insections, one half of the boxes being extended from the body of thecasing, while the other half extends from the top of the casing, asclearly shown at Figs. 4 and 5.

In the drawings the lower halves of the boxes for the brush and pickerrolls are designated by the numerals 10 11, while the upper halves ofthese boxes are respectively designated by the numerals 12 13. tVhile Ihave shown these boxes as formed in sections and would prefer to makethem in this manner, still it will be clear that they could be made inone piece for each side bearing for the rolls and could be secured tothe sides of the casing in any suitable manner, and I therefore do notwish to-be limited in this respect.

I provide the conical ends of the brush and picker rolls with wings 1415, which are spirally disposed around the conical ends and taper downfrom the largest diameters of these ends to the smallest diametersthereof, so that when these conical ends thus provided are revolved inthe conical boxes the draft of air isdirected to a certain extentparallel [with the axes of the rolls, so that there is a tendency tokeep the material operated upon toward the centers of the rolls.

I preferably construct my picker-roll with corrugations 16, which extendin parallelism throughout the length of this roll after the manner ofgear-teeth, and these corrugations serve to produce a strong current ofair and materially assist the brush-roll in blowing the particles offur.

It will thus be readily understood from the above description that therecan be no deadcorners or places in the machine where the particles offur can become wedged and matted together,for there is a constant andstrong current of air always passing over and around the entire area ofboth the brush and picker rolls.

Vhile I prefer to use the brush-roll in connection with the picker-rollin hat-forming machines, still it is a fact that in some instances thebrush-roll may be dispensed with, for the reason that the corrugationson the picker-roll create a current of air sufficient to act upon thefur. Furthermore, since the peculiar construction of the ends of therolls is the means whereby the formation of the dags is prevented, I donot wish to be limited by the employment of both of these rolls, for thereason that in fur-blowing machines no brush-rolls are employed, butmerely a lot of picker-rolls are used, and it is quite necessary thatthese picker-rolls should be constructed as to their ends in accordancewith myimprovement to prevent the formation of dags in the mass of furbefore the latter is placed upon the apron of the hat-forming machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I clailnas new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hat-forming machine, the combina tion of the casing providedwith laterally-extending conical boxes, with the operating-roll suitablyjournaled and having conical ends extending within said boxes said endsbeing provided with spirally-disposed wings, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hat-forming machine, the combination of the casing provided withlaterally-extending conical boxes, the operating-roll suitably j ournaled and having conical ends which extend within said boxes and areseparated therefrom by an air-space, and wings spirally disposed aroundsaid ends and tapered down from the largest diameters of said ends tothe smallest diameters thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD J. LYNCH.

Witnesses:

THEo. F. JUDD, GRACE CLARK.

